Eating Disorders: Know the Facts

by Teen Vogue

Eating disorders are scary subjects that can be difficult to talk about, especially when you or a friend have become the unlucky victim of one. Even so, it's important to know the warning signs and symptoms of eating disorders so that you can seek proper help if necessary. In order to learn more about them, we talked to Christine, an activist for eating-disorder prevention, about her own experience in overcoming an eating disorder and how all teens can work to establish a healthy body image:

How did your eating disorder begin?

It all started with swimming. The summer going into eighth grade I became very competitive with it, and a lot of my anxiety was put into it. When I realized that practices weren't doing enough, it led to eating healthier, which led to eating less, which then affected my body image. When my body image became bad, I said I needed to eat less, exercise more, and practice more than everyone else. Eventually it turned into a full-blown eating disorder.

What were the first steps to your recovery process?

I was put into a hospitalization program and then released two times. After that, my parents thought it would be best to go to a residential program out in Utah. After about seven weeks, I wasn't doing anything to set myself on the path to recovery so I was placed in a program called work therapy. I got up every morning and did chores around the place I was staying, like washing dishes and cleaning the bathroom. I was not allowed any contact with anyone in my family, my therapist, or any other girls. One day I was outside when it was cold, and I realized that my eating disorder was making me miserable-- it was telling me that I was happy, but I really wasn't. I realized then that I deserved more than the disorder was giving me.

What do you do now to maintain a healthy body image?

I
see a therapist about the anxiety that I have, because my anxiety
influences how I feel about my body. I take notice of what I've been
doing, and whenever I feel bad about my body, I ask myself: "What's
going on in my life that's causing me to feel this way?" The best
method to for me to get back on track is by counteracting my negative
thoughts with positive ones.

Why is maintaining a healthy body image so important for teen girls?

Having
a negative body image can cause people to not live their life to the
fullest. By feeling confident, I put myself out there more. If I'm
comfortable with how I feel, I'm more outgoing and more likely to do
things, like go out with my friends and be social.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned throughout the recovery process?

Being
comfortable with who I am, not just body image-wise, but
personalitywise. It's all about accepting who I am, and being
comfortable with being that person.

What advice would you give to girls who are struggling with their body image?

Stop
looking in the mirror and pointing out things you don't like. Say
things like, "I have pretty eyes," "I have a beautiful smile," or "I
have a great personality." Focus on the positive aspects about
yourself, even if you have to look at just one thing at a time.

What should our readers know about eating disorders that they might not know already?

Recovery
from an eating disorder is possible. There are people that go into
treatment, go out of treatment recovered, and can then live their life
to the fullest. Also, having an eating disorder isn't a choice. The CEO
of the National Eating Disorder society, Lynn Grefe, says, "Genetics
load the gun and environment pulls the trigger." [What that means is
that] you're born with the susceptibility to develop an eating
disorder, then something happens in life that triggers a person to act
on it.

How are you working to help other teens recognize and overcome their own eating disorders?

By doing interviews like these. Whenever someone calls my house, my mom
asks me if I want to do an interview--and if it's a good opportunity, I
always take it. I also helped with a National Eating Disorder awareness
program at my school. We had a local therapist come in and talk to the
students about body image and about [how times have changed in respect
to favored body types]. We also handed out brochures and did a fun
quiz.

If
you or someone you know needs help with an eating disorder, contact The
National Eating Disorders Association's Informational and Referral
Helpline at 800-931-2237. For more information about eating disorders,
visit nationaleatingdisorders.org.